Shot Cuts: Tunes afresh

History is on the verge of being made. Veteran music director M.S. Viswanathan, who, 26 years ago, worked with Ilaiyaraaja to deliver the musical hit Mella Thiranthathu Kadavu, is to work with Ilaiyaraaja’s son Yuvan Shankar Raja for the first time. The veteran and the youngster are to score music for the remake of the yesteryear hit Thillu Mullu, which featured superstar Rajinikanth in the lead. Sources say that while the film’s muhurat is to take place on August 24, the shooting will commence in September.

While Mirchi Siva will reprise Rajini’s role in the remake, the role played by Thengai Srinivasan will be played by Prakash Raj. Isha Talwar has been finalised as the heroine.

A channel in the offing

Producer Hansraj Saxena has announced that he will soon launch a television channel. “I have always been a television man. A group of investors has offered to launch a new channel. We haven’t finalised a name for it as of now. The channel will promote films made on small budgets, they are the ones that need the maximum support,” he said.

A big thank you

Pon Kumaran, the director of Charulatha, thanked director K. Bhagyaraj and lead actor Priyamani for two different and interesting reasons at the audio launch function of the film.

“I was eking out a living by collecting scrap and melting them to make aluminium ingots until I met director Bhagyaraj who, after listening to a story I had, asked me to join the industry. That has made all the difference.”

Talking about Priyamani, he said, “My first Kannada film had two powerful female characters. One was the heroine’s and the other which could be handled only by a talented actress did not have any takers. When I approached Priyamani, she was willing to play the role. That film went on to become a hit and so, in gratitude I’ve cast Priyamani as the heroine in Charulatha. But looking at her work in this film, I realise that I can never repay her. In fact, my debt has only grown.”